Yamaha YZF 1000 R Thunderace 2001 — Specifications

So, what remains of a sportbike from the last century when its little sister, a wild R1, stole the spotlight at the turn of the 2000s? The Yamaha YZF 1000 R Thunderace, for its part, chose wisdom, or rather, it was forced to adopt it. This large inline four-cylinder engine, which cheerfully expelled 145 horsepower at 10,000 rpm, found itself propelled, against its will, into the role of sport-touring machine. A surprising conversion, but devilishly effective.

It must be said that the base was solid. This 1002 cm³ block, with its five valves per cylinder, was never a weakling. Its true talent lies in a torque of 108 Nm available from the mid-range, a generosity that makes the beast much less demanding than a pure sportbike. You don't yank the levers, you caress them, and the response is immediate, supple, and powerful. A real breath of fresh air for the touring rider who doesn't want to play tightrope walker with a tachometer. To answer the classic question, this Yamaha YZF 1000 R Thunderace 2000 could brush 240 km/h, a more than honorable top speed for dynamic long-distance touring.

The chassis confirms this impression of serene robustness. The aluminum Deltabox frame and the 45 mm fork offer rock-solid stability, even on rough roads. With a wheelbase of 1435 mm and a wet weight of 224 kg, it's far from a nervous wasp. The 1999 or 2001 Thunderace embodies the same philosophy: it's ridden with the shoulders, not the wrists. It swallows curves with reassuring placidity, but don't ask it for the flick-flicks of an R1 on the track. Its weight would be felt. On the other hand, on national roads or in the mountains, it's in its element, comfortable with a 795 mm seat height, even if the fairing could offer better protection from the elements.

Ultimately, who is the buyer of this Yamaha YZF 1000 R Thunderace today? The rider who is looking for a sportbike with a calmed character, a meaty and reliable engine, a mechanical system that doesn't require a doctorate in riding to be appreciated. It’s the sportbike for those who have put away their leather racing suit but haven't lost the desire for sensations. It has been eclipsed by more radical machines, but it possesses this rare virtue: accessibility without boredom. A classic to rediscover, far from the follies of stratospheric power.